Explanation: On February 2nd,
a first quarter
Moon
shone in planet Earth's
early evening sky.
As seen from a location on the US west coast near
Mt. Hamilton,
California, the
International Space Station also arched above
the horizon, crossing in front of the Moon's sunlit surface.
The space station's transit
lasted 0.49 seconds.
This sharp exposure, a well-timed
telescopic image,
recorded the space station during the transit
against the background of the
Moon's smooth Mare Serenitatis
(Sea of Serenity).
The orbital outpost was
traveling northwest to southeast
(from 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock) at a range of
389 kilometers or about 230 miles.
Of course, the
Moon itself was
1,000 times farther away.
In the remarkable photo, the glinting station also offers
a hint of the bluish reflection
of earthlight.